Institutes in South Korea for foreigners. Higher education in South Korea: an overview of the system, universities and opportunities for foreigners

South Korea has made a fantastic breakthrough in the development of its economy in a short period of time. Thanks to which she earned the title of “Asian Tiger”. According to its economic indicators, the state ranks 14th. This largely explains why studying for foreigners in South Korea is considered prestigious and attracts students from different parts of the world.

The local educational system is divided into several levels:

Elementary education. Starts at 6 years of age and lasts 6 years.
Average. Duration 6 years: 3 years in secondary school and another 3 years in higher education.
Studying in higher educational institutions.

Preschool education is not considered compulsory here. Classes in elementary school involve studying the Korean language, plus some science and humanities subjects. The country pays great attention to the spiritual and cultural education of the younger generation.

Primary education in South Korea can be obtained in public and private schools for 6 years. It should be borne in mind that in the first case you will have to adhere to strict standards for uniform, hairstyles, and so on, in the second, there are no such strict rules, but studying will cost much more.

Lesson at Korean High School

The next stage is the transition to secondary school, where the child continues his studies for another three years. The final stage of obtaining secondary education is 3 years of study at a higher education institution. The main focus is on studying mathematics, physics and other exact sciences. The main task is to prepare students for admission to state institutes and universities.

Higher education

An interesting fact: at the end of the Second World War, the total number of young specialists with a university education barely reached 2 thousand. Since then, the situation in the country has changed dramatically. If at that time local citizens had to go to Europe or the USA for a quality education, today education here is not inferior in quality and prestige to the most developed world countries. We managed to evaluate training in Korea for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kazakhstanis and other representatives of the countries of the former Soviet Union, and later the CIS.

There are many Institutes and Universities in the country. Seoul University is considered one of the largest, with about 20 faculties.

The most popular and in-demand specialties

Among local students and foreigners, it is especially popular in specialties that involve development and career growth in international and transnational companies.

These include:

doctors;
teachers;
programmers;
IT specialists;
economists;
lawyers;
notaries.

What do foreign applicants need to know?

Important - free education in South Korea for Russians has its own nuances that should definitely be taken into account. First, collect a package of documents in advance. Secondly, in 2019, Russians can enter a Korean university after completing one or more courses at an educational institution in the Russian Federation. Therefore, it is recommended from the very beginning to enroll in the faculty in whose specialty you will continue your studies in South Korea. Thirdly, you first need to make an official request and clarify what educational programs are currently available for Russian applicants. By the way, the choice largely depends on the level of education received at the place of actual residence and knowledge of a foreign language. Fourthly, find out what grants are available and what is needed to receive them.

In addition, it is important to know and take into account that in public and private universities the conditions and list of documents may differ significantly.

Standard list of documents required by an applicant:

summary;
motivation letter;
photocopies of certificates confirming a sufficient level of proficiency in a foreign language;
extract from the educational institution.

Visa issue

Studying in Korea for Russians is impossible without a special student visa.

To do this you must provide:

civil and foreign passports (not expired);
questionnaire;
a bank statement indicating the availability of the required amount of money in the account;
an officially certified photocopy of a diploma or certificate;
statement of enrollment in a South Korean university;
pay for your studies and provide receipts;
medical insurance policy;
2 photos;
for applicants after 9th grade or 11th grade who are under 18 years of age, they will additionally need to provide a birth certificate and
permission to leave from parents certified by a notary.

Features of accommodation

It is quite rare for a citizen of another power to study for free here, although in some cases it is possible. It is important to take into account that the cost of services is not the same everywhere and does not always depend on the prestige of a particular educational institution. It is noteworthy that classes in provincial, but private universities will cost more than in the most popular Seoul University.

At the stage of preparing documents, it is important to take care of accommodation. To do this, you need to send a request and clarify whether a place in the hostel is provided or not. If a student lives in a dormitory, then you should be prepared to eat in a cafe or student canteen (cooking is prohibited in dormitories). However, it should be added that the choice of dishes in local canteens is quite varied, and their prices are quite reasonable.

The employment of foreign students is also permitted. During the holidays, the time is not limited, and during the semester, it should not exceed 20 hours per week.

Exchange programs

Student exchange programs are very developed here. Most universities willingly accept students from different parts of the world, including from Russia. Moreover, the peculiarity of such programs is that the main emphasis is not on classical classroom teaching, but on a variety of joint activities. This helps to learn more deeply about the culture, customs of another people, understand the mentality and learn the language.

There are different types of such programs. For example, during the holidays you can not only study the Korean language, but also combine it with your hobby or, on the contrary, take up taekwondo, take calligraphy lessons, and become familiar with the intricacies of preparing traditional dishes of national cuisine. The student can make a schedule and choose classes to his liking independently.

Among the most interesting and relevant programs for this year are:

linguistic;
economic;
on management;
studying IT technologies;
sports.

A characteristic feature of most of them is that classes are conducted in English and are free of charge. The standard duration of such programs is on average one month. To become a member of one of them, you need to go through a competitive selection, provide all the necessary documentation and pass an exam in a foreign language.

The decisive criteria for competitive selection are:

current academic performance;
knowledge of the language.

Studying in South Korea for most Russian, Ukrainian and other foreign students is an excellent chance to receive a quality education and a diploma that is highly rated in most countries. Another plus is the opportunity, from your student years, to establish business connections with representatives of different countries, in a friendly and informal atmosphere.

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Every year, South Korean universities are becoming increasingly popular in the global educational space. This is especially noticeable in the ever-growing interest of foreign students in studying at Korean universities.

For their part, the South Korean authorities and the administration of higher educational institutions are constantly working towards improving the higher education system, the goal of which is to achieve higher positions in world rankings of the prestige of universities.

It must be said that the achievements of South Korea in all spheres of social and economic life are more than impressive. In a very short period of time, literally in just a few decades, the country managed to overcome, if not poverty, then at least a very large gap from the average level of economic development and become one of several economic leaders in Asia, and in many sectors of the economy and social achievements to become one of the most world leaders.

One of these achievements is the entire educational system in general and the higher education system in particular. It is thanks to competent state policy in the field of training and education of the younger generation, focused on the prestige of education and the creation of the most favorable conditions for this, that the country managed to make a powerful economic leap.

Education can be considered one of the national traditions. Many documents have been preserved indicating the existence of a system of secondary and higher education in the country back in the 14th century. Students from schools and the National Confucian University had many privileges. They were not drafted into the army, but were aimed at science and politics.

Confucian University annually accepted 200 students who passed a very strict selection. As a result, every student and graduate of the university represented a piece of the elite of society, capable of developing science, promoting progress and governing the state.

Christian missionaries who appeared on the peninsula in the 19th century played a major role in the development of the Korean educational system. They introduced some Western values into the culture of the eastern country and made education accessible to women.

The first half of the 20th century was very tragic in the history of the country: the Japanese occupation at the beginning of the century, the American occupation in the middle. All this greatly undermined the economy and social spheres of society. Education also fell into decline: the number of schools was reduced, only 6-year education became compulsory, there were only 19 universities left, but it was not possible for most young people to enroll there due to the lack of the necessary level of training.

The South Korean government began serious reform of the public education system only in the early 60s, and by the end of the 80s there were 100 universities operating in the country. During the same period, the number of students pursuing higher education increased from 100,000 to 1.3 million.

Today the country occupies the highest positions in world rankings both in terms of the overall literacy level, which is 97%, and in the number of students among the population. Higher education in South Korea, like several centuries ago, is the main condition for individual development and career growth for every young person. And for the state, this is a complete guarantee of stable continuation of socio-economic growth.

Which universities in the country are the most prestigious?

Today, there are 370 universities in the Republic of Korea that have different statuses and ratings, but each of them tries to provide maximum educational services. Higher educational institutions differ in size, specialization, and training programs, so it is extremely easy to find the most suitable direction for each applicant.

According to their status, all Korean universities are divided into private and public. Tuition fees in private educational institutions are higher than in public ones. Among private universities, the most prestigious universities are: Korea University, Yonsei University, Ewha University and the University of Science and Technology, located in the city of Pohang. Among public universities, it is worth noting the Korea University of Science and Technology, KAIST, as well as Seoul and Busan National Universities.

According to the 2017 ranking of the best universities in the world, South Korea occupies a very worthy place: 2 of its universities are included in the top hundred of the best universities in the world - Seoul National University and the Korea Institute of Advanced Technology or KAIST, taking 72 and 89 places, respectively. And 2 more universities, Pohang University of Science and Technology and Sungkyunkwan University, entered the second hundred, taking 104 and 137 places, respectively.

How are South Korean universities structured and what do they study?

Higher education in the Republic of Korea traditionally includes 3 levels: bachelor's degree, which involves 4 years of study, master's degree - 2 years for all specialties and 6 years for medical and doctoral studies.

The top three universities in South Korea include Seoul National University and Korea and Yonsei Universities.

Seoul University is one of the largest in the country both in terms of the number of students enrolled and the number of scientific departments. This university does not have a specific specialization, technical or humanitarian, but unites under its roof a wide variety of faculties and departments, of which there are 16 and 71, respectively.

The university provides the opportunity to receive education at all three levels. Providing a high level of education, the university employs the best specialists from different countries, and the educational process is equipped with the most modern technologies. Therefore, no matter what direction of study you choose, its quality and your future demand will be guaranteed to be the highest.

Koryo University is private and has a humanities specialization. The area of jurisprudence and law is especially valued here.

Yonsei University is considered the best medical university in South Korea. But along with medicine, there are several humanities and technical faculties.

Some other educational institutions in the country that have a narrow and sometimes even unique specialization also deserve attention. For example, Seoul Foreign Studies University is third in the world in terms of the number of languages studied. In addition to teaching 45 languages, you can get a serious education in the fields of sociology, geopolitics and economics.

The Korean leading science and technology university, located in the city of Tanjon, is a leading research center and leads in the number of invited Nobel laureate professors.

Ewha Womans University is the world's largest women's university with 11 departments. One of the faculties, Scranton, operates according to a specially developed program that provides not only knowledge in the specialty, but also develops leadership skills. For an Eastern society with traditions of gender inequality, such a program in an all-female team is a real breakthrough in consciousness. Wanting to compete with European society in all areas of human activity, Koreans are ready to accept new rules of the game.

South Korean universities for foreigners

The South Korean government continues to work to increase the prestige of Korean education in the global specialist market. Now government programs and numerous scholarships are aimed at attracting foreign students. Already today, more than 100,000 foreigners are studying in the country, and according to the academic plan adopted in 2015 for a period of 8 years, by 2023 the number of students from abroad should reach 200,000 people.

For this purpose, English-language programs and curricula are being developed in the most popular areas of study today. There are already more than 1,000 similar master's and doctoral programs in the country. In addition to a huge selection and high quality of educational services, foreign students enjoy a lot of various privileges: they can work part-time while studying, apply for state and non-state grants and scholarships, which can significantly reduce education fees.

Foreigners pay exactly the same tuition fees as Korean students. The cost of training is quite high.

Depending on the university, a bachelor's degree will cost 100,000-300,000 rubles per semester, and a master's degree will cost 300,000-350,000 rubles.

But all educational institutions in the country have a system of various bonuses for high academic performance and special academic achievements.

Thanks to such incentives, the cost of training can be reduced by 50-70%. But the most attractive thing for a foreign student is the fact that after graduation, the South Korean government takes an active part in finding an employer.

University life is not only about life, it is also about an incomparable variety of recreation and entertainment. Koreans skillfully combine their thousand-year-old traditions with American pop culture, which makes relaxation and fun unique and unforgettable. Each university provides its students with a whole list of studios according to their interests. These could be societies of travelers, rock climbers, lovers of playing various musical instruments, and much more.

Higher education in South Korea today provides an opportunity to obtain in-demand professions, and then get a job in this country.

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The education system in South Korea is similar to ours: 4 years of bachelor's degree, 2 years of master's degree, for doctors the training is 6 years. This is where the similarities end, and the bottomless abyss of differences begins. How to enter a university in South Korea and is it worth it at all? Let's take a closer look.

Universities in South Korea where you can study

The best universities in Korea are designated by the abbreviation SKY. Stands for:

Seoul National University, or SNU, as its name is often abbreviated, is the second largest institution of higher education in Korea. Up to 3.5 thousand students can live on its campus. In 2011, it took 42nd place in the ranking of higher education institutions in the world. Many famous personalities graduated from SNU: the heads of Samsung and LG corporations, Kim Yongsam, many actors and politicians.
Korea University. A private university with an emphasis on the humanities. Provides the most complete and competent knowledge in the field of law and jurisprudence.
Yonsei University. By right, the best medical university in Korea. Training is provided here not only in medical specialties, but also in technical and humanitarian fields. Its graduates include great scientific minds working around the world, politicians and actors.

In the above-mentioned universities, student exchange programs are widespread; luminaries of science and art come to lectures. In addition to SKY, the following universities are also known in Korea:

Name	Location of the main building	brief information
Ewha	Seoul	The world's largest women's university. Consists of 11 faculties. The Scranton faculty conducts training in a special program, cultivating leadership qualities.
Busan National University	Busan	The first university in Korea, it includes 12 colleges and 6 high schools.
Kunming	Seoul	Conducts training in 15 specialties. Students undergo internships at major universities in the world. Japanese Studies is the strongest department. Kunming Japanists publish their own magazine.
Korean Leading Institute of Science and Technology	Daejeon	Leading educational and research university of South Korea. Regularly hires foreign teachers, including Nobel laureates.
Foreign languages Hanguk	Seoul	3rd university in the world in terms of the number of languages studied (45). In addition to foreign languages, sociology, geopolitics, economics and other humanities are taught here.

Benefits of studying in South Korea

The main advantage is the quality of education. The teaching system here is structured differently compared to ours: there are no seminars, and lectures are conducted in two types. In the first case, the student independently tells the audience previously prepared material. The teacher corrects and encourages other students to discuss. In the second, the teacher asks leading questions to the audience and discusses with them. Usually, after researching an important topic, you are given 20–30 minutes to complete a task where you need to apply what you have learned.

High quality education consists not only of the professionalism of teachers, but also of technical equipment. South Korean universities are equipped with modern equipment and laboratories, and regularly conduct additional courses and trainings.

Other benefits of studying here include:

Low crime rate in the country.
Low cost of training and accommodation.
More than 10 types of grants and scholarships that can significantly reduce costs.
Opportunity to study in English.
Friendly attitude towards Europeans.

A busy student life is a pleasant bonus of studying here. The wild mixture of American pop culture and millennia-old traditions provides almost limitless opportunities for fun and relaxation. At each university there are additional clubs, for example, playing the guitar, rock climbing and others, the subscription fee for a month of visiting which varies within 500 rubles.

Every year, Korean companies participate in exhibitions where they post advertisements for hiring foreign students. There will be no problems with finding employment after university, even for humanitarian professions.

A small advantage: if you were fired from your job in Korea, you can switch to a student visa and calmly search for a new one for 6 months. This is important for foreigners applying for a work visa, since it is lost upon dismissal.

Difficulties in learning

The main difficulty of studying in Korea is the need to know the language of the country. Of course, institutions in South Korea create programs for foreigners in English, but in order to live and work in this country, you will have to learn the language. And of course, the Korean language is more difficult than English.

Another difficulty, especially for a Russian person, is the strict rules. Brought a girl to your dorm? Expulsion for both, deportation. Did you drink alcohol in the hostel? Eviction. There are more than a hundred rules, and you won’t be able to skip classes: for a low average score you will be expelled and deported to your homeland.

Another difficulty is work restrictions. A student can get a job after 6 months of study, having received official permission from the authorities. However, the number of working hours should not exceed 20 per week. This is complicated by the fact that the employer must sign a separate agreement that states your special position. During holidays you are allowed to work full time.

Many students complain about differences in mentality, especially regarding food and society. So, in Korea the food is too spicy, which is difficult for a European to immediately get used to. In Korea, there are approximately 4 grades of politeness, and addresses are selected based on the age and social status of the interlocutor. For example, a young person does not have the right to ask anything from the older generation.

How to enter universities in South Korea?

Before entering a Korean university, you must spend a year at a university in your home country. It is advisable to choose the specialty for which you want to continue studying abroad: this will make studying in another country a little easier. After entering the university, the further algorithm looks like this:

view Korean universities for foreigners and choose one of them;
contact its international relations department and find out the conditions for admission;
pass the foreign language certificate exam;
collect documents for admission;
wait for a response about enrollment;

The acceptance response must be attached to your visa application documents. After receiving a visa, you can fly to Korea to study.

Documents for admission

The list of documents, especially in private universities, may change, so it is better to clarify it 6-12 months in advance in the department responsible for international relations. You can find his postal address on the university website.

Sample list of documents:

resume indicating place of study;
copy of passport and foreign passport;
a certificate of study at a university, translated into English and certified by a notary;
an extract about the subjects attended, indicating the hours;
copies of secondary education certificates;
a letter of motivation explaining your reasons for enrolling.

A certificate of language proficiency is a mandatory document. All universities in South Korea require at least IELTS or TOEFL certificates. It’s great if you have a TOPIK (certificate of knowledge of Korean): when accepting a foreigner, it plays a big role and helps you get ahead of your competitors. Having this certificate may provide an additional scholarship.

Cost of education

Even in state universities education is paid. The first stage of higher education (bachelor's degree) costs 100-300 thousand Russian rubles (for 1 semester). Master's degree - 150–350 thousand. The cost of training depends on the specialty and programs, and not on the prestige of the university. For comparison, a year of study at Seoul National University will cost less than at Yonsei. The highest tuition costs are in medical faculties and engineering specialties.

Scholarships and grants will help reduce or even make tuition free. Thus, for excellent academic success, you can reduce the cost of training by 50–70%.

And yet, should I do it or not?

It sounds like a pun, but Korean University is truly an excellent school of life. Having completed it, you can become a worthy, competent and disciplined member of any society. Despite some difficulties, studying here is interesting. This includes both the possibility of free education and the excellent equipment of universities.

My adventure began with the decision to conquer a new foreign language. After my trip to the states, I strengthened my English very well both in practice and in theory. And while studying at the institute in Khabarovsk (in management), I also learned French (although it faded a little due to lack of use). Therefore, after working for a while, I decided that I wanted to add some oriental languages to my repertoire. After studying them all together and separately, my choice fell on the Korean language. In some ways, it seemed easier to me than the others, and the rapid economic development of South Korea and its close relationship with the Far East of Russia was another plus. And since then, the study of a new language and the search for the best universities and institutes began. Of course, ratings and advice from friends played an important role. It turned out that Yonsei was the first to teach the Korean language to foreigners, its textbooks are used by many other universities, its students pass the TOPIC (Korean language exam) better and with better quality, which is still in first place among all the schools in the world teaching Korean KLI Yonsei .

So the choice was made :) All that remains is to apply. At first it was difficult, since the English version of the site had just been launched, and there were no documents, no comments, no explanations to be found. I had to “reinvent the wheel” myself. Collection of necessary documents, their notarized translation, sending and payment. I remember the excitement of anticipation and not knowing what was to come. But very soon I was informed about my enrollment. And I began to prepare a visa and a list of all the things I needed with me.

First impressions of Yonsei University

Having arrived in Korea, I independently got from the airport to DMCVille (hostel). I remember how scary it was, since I didn’t know Korean yet, and almost everything and everywhere was written in it, I diligently looked for signs in English, but it was in vain. After wandering around the area at night for about 20 minutes, while it was still raining in February, I finally found my accommodation, where they were waiting for me at the reception to register. When I went up to the apartment, I saw my Japanese classmates who had already moved in (by the way, since then I have tried not to live with the Japanese, I have never met such piglets in the flesh). Of course, I was pleased with the first housing, 100 square meters, two bathrooms (there was a bathtub), a laundry room, balconies overlooking the mountains and the Han River, bedrooms, dressing rooms, a living room and a kitchen with the latest technology - what else did I have to fight with to learn this? use.
Within a month, I passed Level 1, also with honors, and finished better than anyone else in the class (fortunately, I studied with a tutor in Khabarovsk for a month - otherwise I would hardly have succeeded).
I’m writing and thinking how cool it was at the beginning and there was more than enough volley, both energy and time.

If you speed up the process, then over the next two years I studied (the further, the more time it took), lived, met people, even starred in a reality show.

Housing in Seoul

I found out later that the thing is quite expensive in Seoul. I managed to rent a room, and later an apartment near the university. It was much more important to quickly get to the institute than to live better, but further. By the way, I didn’t miss a single hour during the entire training period, for which I was rewarded. Koreans always praise kindness and efforts, rather than the excuses of many about how difficult it is to get up for class or how lazy you are to do your homework. I came to study, and also for my own money, so I had to give my all, and that’s the minimum.

People in Korea

The more I got to know Koreans, the more I felt that they often say words to the wind. “Yes, of course, go ahead” - this phrase does not carry a real agreement to meet again or go to the movies, or even play tennis. They often say “yes” simply as a fact that they have accepted your information. I felt more comfortable and easier with Americans. Our mentality, it seems to me, is very similar, especially if we compare the environment of the Chinese and Japanese. Russians? Honestly, I tried to avoid them; I came for Korean, not Russian. But, for the most part, it was our people who set me up and deceived me. They give us the feeling that we are not studying in Korea, but in a war, where all methods are good, as long as we can do better for ourselves. But even from these inhuman actions we learn to live.